Iowa Pork Pledges Support for FFA Center

Source: Iowa Pork Producers Association | Jul 22, 2013

The Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) has pledged $200,000 to support the FFA Enrichment Center. This facility will help prepare future generations of Iowans for a career in agribusiness, ag sciences and veterinary technologies and ensure they have access to the best available training, educational and conference facilities.

The gift to the Iowa FFA Foundation supports the recently announced BELIEVE campaign to retire debt incurred in the construction of the 60,000-sq.-ft. facility. The FFA Enrichment Center opened in 2010 as a multipurpose conference, training and educational facility designed to focus on the FFA and the agricultural education community, but the picturesque facility also is home to many business and social events.

Recognizing Iowa FFA’s need for a new facility, Stine Seed Company secured interim financing for construction until the recently announced capital campaign could raise private funds to retire that debt. To date, more than $500,000 has been raised, and the Iowa FFA Foundation hopes to complete fundraising this summer.

“The Iowa Pork Producers Association's generous gift will help ensure our students have a high-quality facility for working with, caring for and learning about careers in agriculture, agriculture sciences and agriculture leadership skills,” says Joshua Remington, executive director of the Iowa FFA Foundation. “We appreciate the pork producers’ commitment and the many ways IPPA has led the way in strengthening FFA programs in support of all fields of agriculture in Iowa.”

“The Iowa Pork Producers Association has been and will continue to be a strong supporter of FFA,” says IPPA President Greg Lear, a hog farmer and businessman from Spencer. “Young people are the future of agriculture and we’re proud to contribute to this facility and capital campaign.”

“This facility is important,” says Remington, “because one of Iowa FFA’s concerns is the preparation of young people to succeed in Iowa’s agriculture industry.”

“We are very thankful for the association’s generous support,” Remington says. “Their investment will help ensure the FFA Enrichment Center becomes a model for learning and a center for student leadership, helping new generations of Iowans prepare for exciting careers in ag-sciences, agri-business, and agriculture.”

The new facility features a mixed-use educational facility and office building featuring meeting rooms, office areas and an exhibition hall. With approximately 20,000 square feet of conference center space and a two-story lobby/exhibit hall area, groups ranging from 10-700 people can comfortably be accommodated for rental opportunities.

The Enrichment Center also houses two computer labs, a veterinary technician laboratory, teaching and biotechnology laboratories and additional classrooms for Des Moines Area Community College, where the facility is located.

“FFA is instrumental in helping young people who are interested in a career in agriculture, and the Enrichment Center is a first-class facility that is helping educate and train tomorrow’s farm leaders.” Lear says.